During the aging process, we lose fullness in our face, resulting in a sunken look. Today, the new thinking in plastic surgery is to replace volume in the face, rather than pull it tighter. Oftentimes, the best option to replace volume is a fat transfer. This is a very popular treatment which involves using fat cells from one area of the body and transferring them to a different spot which requires more volume. Patients of any age may be candidates for fat transfer.
The Fat Transfer Procedure
Fat is harvested through a small incision from either the neck or the abdomen; the fat is then cleansed and concentrated, after which it is injected into the desired area. For those seeking a natural alternative to dermal fillers for plumping facial wrinkles, this is an option. There is minimal swelling and rarely any bruising. Most patients return back to work or play shortly following the procedure.
Most fat transfer procedures are performed in our San Francisco plastic surgery facility, and typically involve local anesthesia on the donor recipient sites, and some patients may also be given sedation. The procedure usually takes less than an hour to complete. Fat transfer procedures typically involve very little downtime though some redness, swelling and bruising may occur. Most patients are able to return to work or social activities about three days after this treatment. Sun exposure should be limited until the redness and bruising have cleared up.
Younger patients usually request correction of areas which are congenitally deficient while older patients require a more generalized treatment to replace facial volume which is lost as a normal part of the aging process.
The most common areas of the face that are augmented using this technique are lips, naso-labial folds, cheeks and depressions at the lower aspect of the eyelids, called the tear trough. Common donor sites are the abdomen, buttocks and inner thigh.
Please call the Visage Center for Facial Plastic Surgery at (415) 935-3223, or email us at info@doctorrabinovich.com today for a consultation with Dr. Rabinovich to discuss the option of fat transfer for restoring your youthful appearance.